Air Pollution Control

The Division of Air Pollution Control is directed to maintain the purity of the air resources of the State of Tennessee consistent with the protection of normal health, general welfare, and physical property of the people while preserving maximum employment and enhancing the industrial development of the State.

The Division directly serves 91 counties within the state and oversees and assists in the actions of Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby counties, which have their own local air pollution control programs.

If you have a question, concern or complaint about air pollution in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox or Shelby counties, please contact the appropriate Local Air Program.

The Division establishes emission standards and procedure requirements to monitor industries in the State through the issuance of construction and operating permits. Established to carry out control and abatement of air pollution, the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Board adopts regulations, holds hearings, and initiates court actions to enforce regulations. Division staff function as the administrative agency of the Board.

Other duties include conducting source visits and compliance inspections, developing enforcement cases on violations of the regulations, maintaining surveillance of the state's ambient air sampling stations, performing and observing stack tests, certifying persons as Visible Emissions Readers, and collecting and disseminating information relative to the control of air pollution.

The State of Tennessee developed more restrictive regulations to control air pollution from mobile sources in counties that were not meeting the new 8-hour ozone Federal Standards for air quality. As a result, certain vehicles registered in Hamilton, Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties are required to pass a vehicle emission test.

Air Quality Index Color Code Table Use This Table to find out about air quality color codes, what they mean, and what you can do to help reduce ozone pollution and improve air quality levels. Ozone Monitors & PM Monitors View detailed maps of the ozone forecast areas and the specific information about each monitor.

Asbestos is the generic term for a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals with high tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat, chemicals, and electricity. Asbestos was a popular component in commercial products from the early 1900’s to the 1970’s and is found in building construction materials.

Help reduce air pollution in Tennessee by avoiding outdoor burning. Alert Tennesseans know burning trash outdoors is: harmful to the air we breathe, unhealthy for our neighbors – near and far, unsafe, and often unnecessary.